Rapid tests available for those 70+ on Friday at pharmacies across B.C.

For the first time, the general population in British Columbia will have access to COVID-19 rapid tests to take home.

Starting on Friday, the province will be using pharmacies across B.C. to distribute one box of five tests for anyone 70 years and over.

This is the first time these tests have been available at pharmacies and not at testing sites and there are 865,000 rapid tests pre-positioned to be sent for community distribution to pharmacies, the province said Wednesday.

4:28 COVID-19: B.C. government begins to make rapid tests available from pharmacies

Once distribution has started and supply grows, the program will expand to younger ages and will be communicated through the media and the government’s COVID-19 website.

In order to access one of the rapid test kits, individuals will present their BC Services Card at the pharmacy and be given their test kit free of charge.

For now, the province is limiting access to one kit per person within a 28-day period. A kit can be picked up for a family member or another person by providing their name, date of birth and proof of identification with the BC Services Card.

Tests are designed mainly for those with COVID-19 symptoms. The government mentions those who are susceptible to severe illness and death from COVID-19 and those individuals who live or work in settings with others who are high-risk for severe illness are seen as a priority for tests.

2:09 B.C. announces rapid test rollout plan

There are an additional 9.9 million tests expected to arrive in the next few weeks, on top of the approximately 10.4 million tests that have arrived or are in transit.

A big chunk of the tests, 3.8 million more test kits for K-12 education and 2.1 million more test kits for the post-secondary education sector, are headed to schools across the province.

Starting this week schools will start making the test kits available.

Each student will be able to access five tests. School staff will have access to two tests.

“It’s important to remember — and I know Dr. Henry will remind us — that testing continues to be something we do when we have symptoms,” Dix said last week.

“That hasn’t changed. Increased test availability means that more members of the general population will be able to access tests to use to understand their own symptoms and illness, and to take action to limit transmission to their friends, family and work, including those at higher risk.”